ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau has approved a fresh investigation against former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain on charges of illegal allotment of state land and money laundering.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the NAB’s executive board on Wednesday. It was presided over by the bureau’s Chair-man, Qamar Zaman Chaudhry.

But a handout issued by the bureau after the meeting did not carry details about the place where the land was allegedly grabbed or sold and how Dr Asim, a close aide of PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, committed money laundering.

Dr Asim has been facing different investigations for several months — first by Sindh Rangers for over three months and then by NAB.

According to the bureau’s own investigation shared with the media, there are three different cases against Dr Asim and these were filed before his arrest by Rangers in August.

The NAB’s spokesman said: “The meeting authorised investigations against Dr Asim Hussain, former minister for petroleum; Syed Athar Hussain, Director Land of the Karachi Development Authority; and Abdul Hameed, Administrator of Ziauddin Medical Centre, Dubai.”

They have been accused of fraudulently and illegally allotting and annexing government lands. “The proceeds from these illegal activities were utilised for money laundering, causing billions of rupees of losses to the exchequer,” the spokesman said.

Before this, NAB was investigating three corruption cases against Dr Asim, including illegal affiliation of medical colleges with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), issuance of licences for dozens of CNG stations and other corrupt practices.

CORRUPTION REFERENCES: The bureau decided to file a corruption reference against officers of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and others for alleged misuse of authority and looting public money, causing a loss of Rs1.88bn to the exchequer.

Another reference of Rs355 million will be filed against Nawabzada Mehmood Zeb and others for misuse of authority in leasing out 498.96 acres for mineral exploration in violation of mining concession rules of 2005.

The meeting decided to file a reference against officers of NAB for alleged misuse of authority. The spokesman did not give details or names of the officials and only said: “Their mala fide action led to disrepute of NAB.”

The meeting authorised an investigation against officers/officials of University of Peshawar and others for misuse of authority. In this case, Dr Azmat Hayat, a former vice chancellor of the university, and others have been accused of purchasing land on exorbitant rates, causing a loss of Rs100 million to the exchequer.

An investigation was authorised against Syed Ehsan Shah, a former minister for industries and commerce of Balochistan, for misuse of authority in appointments.

NAB authorised an inquiry against Mir Munawwar Ali Talpur, an MNA from Sindh, for alleged accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income and misuse of authority.

An inquiry was approved against the management of the Karachi Port Trust Cooperative Housing Society and others for illegal allotment of commercial plots of the society to Senator Sardar Fateh Mohammad Hasni and others.

An inquiry was authorised against owner Riaz Qadeer Butt and directors of Mecca Sugar Mills and others. According to the case, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan purchased 1,421,355 tons of sugar for delivery to the Utility Stores Corporation and other government entities. Full payments were made to all successful bidders/mills. But during the lifting of sugar, Riaz Butt was first reluctant to deliver sugar as per the agreement and then stopped delivery, causing a loss of Rs618m.

Another inquiry was authorised against the owner of Haq Bahu Sugar Mills and others who purchased sugar stocks of 13,530 tons for delivery to the USC but failed to do so, causing a loss of Rs1.4bn.

Three complaint verifications were approved – the first against Dr Mohammad Qaiser, Vice Chancellor of Karachi University, for misuse of authority through corruption and corrupt practices and illegal appointments in different grades.

The second was against Mujeebur Rehman Mohammad Hassni, an MPA in Balochistan, for embezzlement of funds in development schemes. The third was against Sultan Mehmood Hanjra, an MNA, for illegal possession of land and sale of state land.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2016